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Latest
News
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| Census
2011 - Action needed! |
Dear
all
As part of our campaign to get sexuality questions included on
the 2011 census, I have produced the attached letter for you to
send to your MP. For those on the mailing list who are not LGBT,
you will need to amend the penultimate paragraph.
I urge you all to take action, either by old-fashioned letter
or on line via www.writetothem.com
Download the letter here...
Jeff
Grist
Chair, Proud
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| Latest
on Goods & Services |
This has
just come through from the TUC.
Dear
All,
I expect everyone will have seen the reports on TV and in the
papers on the outcome of the goods and services debate. The
Government has confirmed that there will be no exemptions for
religious adoption agencies - although Catholic agencies will
be given around 20 months to adjust. This "transitional
period" was the idea being floated when the TUC delegation
met Ruth Kelly a week ago. The Minister telephoned Brendan Barber
yesterday to explain the decision. In response, the TUC issued
a brief media release (availabe on the TUC website
www.tuc.org.uk) welcoming it.
The regulations will come into force as expected in April. We
still do not have the text but the DCLG statement (attached
along with the two ministerial statements) conveys what will
be the contents. As you see, the same exemptions for what is
taught in faith schools etc remain, but this is a separate discussion,
and the harassment provisions will not be copied across from
the NI version - however, this was expected, as the Government
mean to do them better in the Single Equality legislation. I
want to thank everyone for your tremendous efforts to secure
this victory - and have no doubt about it, it is a victory.
Even a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable that
a position favoured both by the PM and the responsible Secretary
of State - on lgb rights - would have been overturned by the
resistance of other cabinet ministers. The campaign in Parliament
itself was clearly crucial, but we all played an important part
both in making direct representations, and in mobilising and
stiffening the resistance among MPs. The principle of equality
was the foundation of this campaign and the argument was won.
Govt
Sexual Orientation and Religion and Faith Regulations.doc
Peter Purton
Policy Officer, Disability, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender
Rights Equality & Employment Rights Department, TUC tel. 020
7467 1271 email ppurton@tuc.org.uk
Visit
the website www.tuc.org.uk/changingtimes |
| 2006
Seminar 'slides' |
The Powerpoint presentations used at this year's
seminar are available on the Features page.
Click
here... |
| DCA
Group LGBT Advisory Group |
Are you a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
& Transgendered (LGBT) Member who works for the Department
for Constitutional Affairs (DCA)?
Are you interested in getting more involved in your union’s
campaigns?
Then you might be just who we are looking for!
We are looking for union members who are keen to have their
say about the campaigns that our union runs in the DCA and are
willing to join the Group LGBT Advisory Committee.
Whether
you have been involved in union activities before or would simply
like to have an input into key campaigns that LGBT members in
the DCA think are important either talk to a branch rep about
putting your name forward for the Committee or contact:
Jack
Papasavva, Negotiations Officer
jackp@pcs.org.uk
020 7801 2625.
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| PCS
PROUD AND RESPECT |
|
Many
of you will have seen recent articles in our magazine regarding
concerns we as a group have with Respect. These articles have
generated quite a heated debate, both in support and against our
action.
As
the chair of Proud, I want to set the record straight as to how
we have got to where we are on this issue
1.
Geoff Webb as a member of Proud wrote an article for our magazine
highlighting concerns he had with Respect. This article was in
response to internet research and also personal attendance at
related events.
2. The Officers of Proud discussed the article and agreed that
Geoff’s concerns should be investigated further by Proud
as a PCS equality group looking after the interest of Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Trangender members.
3. I was instructed by the Officers to contact Janice Godrich
to establish how we should take this forward.
4. I approached Janice at the Senior Lay Officers event in Leeds
where she suggested that we put our concerns in writhing to her.
5. Geoff Webb was asked to write the letter to Janice on behalf
of Proud.
6. The National Committee of Proud debated the issue and it was
agreed that we should pursue answers to our concerns.
7. The National Committee instructed me to produce a second article
for our magazine to advise members of our progress. This article
purely repeated extracts from the letter sent to Janice by Geoff.
Our
pursuance of this issue has been debated by our democratically
elected National Committee. No one present at our meetings voiced
opposition or concern.
On
a personal note, both Geoff and I are considering what action,
if any we will be taking against those who have chosen to accuse
us, in writing, of being racist. Those of you who know us, and
know of our long history in campaigning in all areas of equality
will, I am sure know that this is not the case.
Jeff
Grist
PCS Proud Chair
21/08/06
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| Stonewall
Trustees |
Proud have revieved this email from Stonewall and we wanted
to pass it on to Proud members...
"I hope you don't mind us contacting you. Stonewall is
currently advertising for up to three new trustees. We hope
you'll be kind enough to pass this e-mail to anyone you think
might be interested either in applying or passing on this note
themselves to their own networks.
As
you know, Stonewall has campaigned successfully for lesbian and
gay equality across Britain since 1989. We now work in a range
of other areas from employment to education.
Stonewall
has always succeeded in achieving an equal number of men and women
on its board and is keen to continue this. Black and minority
ethnic people are currently under-represented and we particularly
welcome applications from them. Appointments will be made on merit.
Trustee
application packs can be downloaded from www.stonewall.org.uk
or are available from sam.dick@stonewall.org.uk
or on 020 7593 1851.
Stonewall
has only secured its past successes by engaging with a very wide
range of individuals from various communities. We hope you will
encourage diverse candidates to consider joining our board as
a trustee.
Best
wishes
David Isaac (Chair)"
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| Help
request! |
|
One of our members has written with the following
plea...
"I have been asked by my local area's LGB
Forum to make a draft of our LGB history for all of the county’s
Secondary schools.
Basically do you know of any one that has made
a LGB history (for lgb history month) of their region so that
I can use the format etc as a template"
If
anyone has compiled such a document, could they get in touch with
Jeff Grist (Proud Chair) on Jeff.GRIST@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
or 0776 974 1819
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| New
PCS Proud magazine uploaded |
Get
your hands on the brand spanking new PCS Proud magazine here...
(PDF)
Back
issues available here... |
| New
PCS Proud online shop |
Looking
for that perfect present? Ever wanted to be proud about Proud?
Want a snazzy new mug? Now you can have all these at the new PCS
Proud online shop (or should that be boutique?)...
Visit
www.cafepress.com/pcsproud
for the full range of t-shirts, mugs, bags, coasters and hats
available. |
| New
Online Forum |
After
months of scratching my head, and inapropriate language directed
at my computer, the PCS Proud Forum is now live!
Click
here... |
| Publicity
drive for gay partnerships launched |
|
The
government has launched a publicity drive on civil partnerships,
in a bid to let same-sex couples have access to all the information
needed.
The
campaign was launched by Deputy Equality Minister Meg Munn, and
will tackle accusations aimed at the government that awareness
of the new laws is still low.
Guidance
and more information about registering for civil partnerships
and what couples who do can expect will be were released on Friday
16th September.
Click
here for the online information, which includes booklets,
flyers and guides available to download (in PDF format) as well
as as an FAQ section.
|
| NEW
"WHAT'S NEW?" PAGE ADDED |
As
some new features seem to be be getting missed, I've added a new
page listing updates / new pages etc. Hope this helps... simply
click here!
Davey x |
| New
Feature - Daily News Headlines |
|
A
new feature has been added to the 'News' section - a daily feed
of the latest LGBT headlines courtesy of UK.Gay.com
Click
here for more... (opens new window)
|
| New
PCS Proud Women's Group. |
In our efforts to address all underrepresented
groups within PROUD, the National Committee has agreed to the
setting up of a Women's section
as set out in the PROUD constitution. To that end, a network
has been established for women members of PROUD, to look at
ways of improving representation for women and encouraging women
to be more pro-active within the group and within the union.
If you would like your name and contact details to be to be
included on the list of contacts to take part in discussions
and possible future activities, please contact:
Clare
Bat Or, PCS PROUD Women's
Officer, on
01253
667 838 or EMAIL
HERE.
|
| Message
for all Black Members from Jay |
Looking
into the Future for black members.
We need to
know where you are to keep you in contact with Events and what
is going on with the Black members – this part of the Group
includes all ethnic minorities – please contact us with
your details to:
dave@pcsproud.org.uk
or jaylee1814@hotmail.com
we do not want you to be left out.
|
| "Pink
& Pinkish Waterholes of the East Midlands" now downloadable |
The PDF
version of Dave Shaw's Pink &
Pinkish Waterholes of the East Midlands bar
guide is now available to download here.*
*
To open this file, you need Adobe Reader. If you don't already
have it on your computer (and why not!) you can get Get
Adobe Reader here. (a
free download).
To download the file, right click on the link and select "save
target as".
|
| Revised
version of "Our Story" uploaded 26/01/05. |
| To
coincide with LGBT Month in February 2005, Andy Stuart, PCS Proud
Editor has produced an LGBT history booklet.
The
more eagle eyed amongst you will have already seen the original
tucked away in the features pages, and it has had a staggering
3458 hits this month alone! (figure correct on 26/01/05)
"Our
Story" is available to download here
(in PDF format). This is a revised and updated version (26/01/05).
To print a copy in it's correct format, set your printer to "double
sided", "print both sides" etc.
Copies
of the booklet will be sent to all Proud members shortly.
For
more information about LGBT History Month, visit: www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk. |
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